Amid lagging polls, Trump stops holding high-dollar fundraisers

The consequences of halting major fundraisers will compound the challenges facing a candidate and a party already straining to match Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s much larger and better-financed operation. Unlike Clinton, who has an extensive turnout operation of her own, Trump and many other GOP candidates down the ballot are relying heavily on the Republican National Committee to bring voters to the polls.

In another sign of unexpected weakness, Trump also announced that Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, the GOP vice-presidential nominee, will pay a visit Wednesday to Utah, where polls show Trump is at risk of losing what has been a reliably Republican state.

The developments came as both Clinton and Trump campaigned in Florida on Tuesday, underscoring the state’s importance on Nov. 8, particularly for Trump, who acknowledged that he probably cannot win the White House without carrying the state.

Steven Mnuchin, Trump’s national finance chairman, said in an interview with The Washington Post on Tuesday that Trump Victory, a joint fundraising committee between the party and the campaign, held its last formal fundraiser on Oct. 19.

While Clinton is headlining her last fundraiser Tuesday night, outside Miami, her campaign has scheduled 41 other events between now and Nov. 3 featuring high-profile surrogates such as her daughter, Chelsea, running mate Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and the entertainer Cher, according to a schedule sent to donors over the weekend.

Mnuchin said the Trump campaign is continuing to help bring in funds for the party, but decided to keep the candidate’s final weeks focused on taking his message to the voters in person rather than on raising money.

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